A Look Back on How Web Page Design Has Changed

Modern technologies are improving on a daily basis. A lot has changed since I became a web page designer back in 1999; all for the better, thankfully, and not just for me as a designer, but for you as the average net surfer. We have faster Internet speeds, better computers with enriched performance, smartphones, tablets, iPads—need I go on?

Of course, as time passes, technology continually improves, but how has web page design changed to keep up with all the amazing technological advances? Well, I will tell you.

Let’s begin with screen sizes. Back in the day, the width of a standard web page design was 600 pixels, then 800 pixels, then 1024 pixels, and many web designers had certain assumptions about the sizes of the screens on which designs were based. When smartphones and tablets hit the market several years ago, it changed everything. All the assumptions and the ideas used for years, basically became unusable.

There were some other assumptions, such as fast Internet connections. If I have it, it does not necessarily mean someone else has it. Many people use Internet connections which are poor, and most of the time unreliable, which definitely must be taken into account when it comes to the design of a web page. After all, we need to change our approach. We need to create websites which are usable for many people, not just the majority. Not all people have an Internet connection which is superfast, and not everyone will use a mouse. Even though computers are better and faster than ever, not everyone will replace the one they have by purchasing a new computer which has better hardware.

One of the biggest changes in web page design came with responsive design, which allows the websites to actually adapt to any size of screen, no matter if it is a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, phablet or smartphone. As I mentioned, modern technologies are improving, and it is only a matter of time before we will have to face some new challenges which will be related to some new devices. A few years ago, who could have guessed that there would be tablets smartphones, and all the other incredible devices which are making our life easier? The future will certainly bring something new, innovative and refreshing, and web page design will need to keep pace with all those innovations. The necessary thing is to find some new patterns, which will be crucial for interaction. What is needed is a new interface, which will be able to work on all devices.

When it comes to designing, especially for smaller screens, the focus should be on the content. If you are wondering why, the answer is simple – it is something everyone will be able to see, because content means letters. Content must be readable, interesting, needs to work properly, and it also needs to look really good. It is far more important, than adding many things, such as a header, navigation, logo or widgets. Here, at Ignition Media, content is always a starting point, which will later be optimised in order to fit a wide range of screen sizes available today.

In the area of web page design, there is another issue. There is a shortage of some really great web design tools. However, there are certain tools which offer particular functions important for web page design, such as Gridset, or International measure slider.

Conclusion:

The world of technology is changing and improving, which means web page design needs to change and improve, to stay on track. Some things and assumptions we had should stay in the past, and our approach must be different than it once was. When working on a web design, keep in mind that you are not designing for a particular group of people with a superfast Internet connection, or ones who have brand new computers or laptops. You are designing for everyone.

If you want a mobile-friendly responsive website, you can rely on Ignition Media. We are Gold Coast web page design specialists, and we will turn your desires into the reality. With our professional assistance, you will finally have an excellent responsive website. All you need to do is pick up the phone, and call us: 07 55 687 515.

Nicole Brooke | Administrator

Nicole is owner and SEO of Ignition Media. She has been an SEO for 15 years and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to SEO, content marketing and Social Media exposure. Follow me on Google+View all posts by Nicole Brooke →